AUGUST SCHNUETTGEN

AUGUST SCHNUETTGEN, a native of Prussia, has been identified with the interests of Shelby County since 1873, when he emigrated to America, and settled in Westphalia Township. He was born March 30, 1854, and is a son of Anton and Mary A. (Hitze) Schnuettgen, both deceased. August was the sixth child in a family of seven, three of whom reside in America. He was reared in his native country to farm life; he acquired a common-school education, and worked at the carpenter's trade one year previous to his coming to America. For twelve or thirteen years he followed this business in this country, and worked on a farm for one year. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Schnuettgen came to Earling, and erected a large two-story brick building, in which he opened a stock of hardware, tinware, stoves, pumps and furniture; he also attends to the undertaking of Earling and vicinity, keeping a full line of burial robes and undertakers' supplies. His stock in both lines is unequaled in most towns of the size of Earling. He also owns forty acres of land in Westphalia Township, 160 acres in Union Township, a house and lot in Panama, and his property in Earling. He has erected most of the school buildings in Westphalia and Union townships, beside a great number of dwelling houses. Mr. Schnuettgen has probably done as much as any other citizen of the county toward the advancement and growth of the town of Earling. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. He was married February 10, 1886, to Louisa Block, daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Bolte) Block, who was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, October 2, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Schnuettgen are members of the Roman Catholic church.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 504-505. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.